21 Aug 2023

Arohata women's prison may have to re-open

From Morning Report, 7:45 am on 21 August 2023

Corrections may have to re-open Arohata women's prison, after a damning High Court judgment that it broke the law and discriminated against women.

The prison was effectively closed to sentenced inmates last year to ease a staffing shortfall of about 1,000 Corrections officers.

More than 40 inmates were transferred to Christchurch and Auckland - away from their whanau, communities, and drug and alcohol treatment programmes.

Amanda Hill represented eight of the women at the judicial review.

Hill spoke to Corin Dann.